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AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein made a phone call on Wednesday with Minister of Education Azmi Mahafzah to inquire about the case of student Mohammad Humaidi, who is recovering from burns he sustained inside one of the public schools. 

During the call, His Royal Highness expressed his confidence in the fair and impartial judiciary, which is handling the case, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The Crown Prince also directed that the ministry take the necessary measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur again and to provide a safe educational environment for students, Petra said. 

He also emphasised that he would continue to follow up on the measures the ministry will take to enhance public safety at schools.

In remarks to Petra on Wednesday, Mahafzah said that the incident of the student burned by his peers in one of the schools is "strange and reprehensible and it has never occurred in the history of our Jordanian schools."

The minister emphasized that the incident reflects negligence on the part of some school staff, as such dangerous materials should not be within the students' reach. "They must be stored in a safe place in closed rooms, and it is unacceptable for students to be in such a room."

"The ministry will not hesitate to take any decisions or impose penalties on those found guilty of negligence or failure to act, which led to this painful incident," he said. 

Police on Tuesday said they were questioning two minors who reportedly set a student on fire in one of the Kingdom’s schools a day earlier.

The two suspects allegedly poured a flammable substance on his stomach and chest and set it ablaze, the police spokesperson said.

“The child, who survived the incident and was listed in fair condition, appeared in a video clip on social media describing the alleged incident,” the police spokesperson told The Jordan Times.

The Family Protection Department (FPD) is currently investigating the incident, according to the police official.

In a video clip that circulated on social media, a boy named Mohammed, 11, spoke from a hospital bed of the alleged incident saying he was “attacked by two of his schoolmates who poured kerosene over his body and set him ablaze”.

A woman claiming to be his mother also appeared in the video claiming that two students attacked her son and called on the concerned authorities “to bring justice to my son”.

The juvenile prosecution office is expected to start investigating the incident once the FPD finishes its initial investigations, according to a statement by the Public Security Directorate.

AMMAN — Jordan secured the fifth position among Arab countries and ranked 49th globally out of 188 countries in the Government AI Readiness Index 2024. 

This marks an improvement from its 2023 ranking of 55th among 193 countries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.   

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Jordan outperformed Bahrain, Egypt, and Kuwait in the latest report by Oxford Insights.  

The statement stressed that this progress reflects the government's efforts, led by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, to enhance the country's regional and global standing in AI.  

The report highlighted key initiatives, including the government's AI-powered electricity load forecasting project, which plays a crucial role in enhancing energy grid efficiency, reducing reliance on conventional energy reserves, and accelerating the transition to renewable energy through AI applications. 

The 2024 index examines 40 indicators across three pillars: Government, Technology Sector, and Data & Infrastructure. It highlights progress, identifies gaps, and provides actionable insights for policymakers working to integrate AI into public service delivery, according to https://oxfordinsights.com. 

At its core, the index asks: How ready are governments to implement AI in the delivery of public services? By answering this question, Oxford Insights aims to offer a practical tool that supports evidence-based decision-making and helps policymakers unlock AI’s potential to better serve citizens worldwide, the website added.

AMMAN — As part of Jordan's ongoing efforts to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli war on Gaza, the Jordanian Field Hospital in South Gaza has been providing critical medical and therapeutic services to the people of Khan Yunis.

Since its establishment, the hospital has treated 26,361 patients and performed 937 surgeries, according to its operational commander. "In line with the Royal directives to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, we continue to provide the best medical care to help them overcome the challenges imposed by war," the commander said.

The hospital's director highlighted that of the total surgeries performed, 190 were major and 747 were minor. Additionally, the hospital facilitated 44 births and treated 432 patients who required admission to various departments for specialised care, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

A key focus of the hospital’s work has been its Amputee Support Unit, which has provided prosthetic limbs to those who have lost their limbs due to the ongoing violence. 

"To date, 116 prosthetic limbs have been fitted, benefiting 369 individuals."

Under Royal directives, the Kingdom, in cooperation with the World Central Kitchen, has also dispatched a mobile bakery with a production capacity of 3,500 loaves of bread per hour to Gaza.

Jordan runs two military field hospitals in Gaza, one in the Strip's north, which was established in 2009 following the war in 2008.

The second was established in Khan Younis in the south in November 2023 at the peak of the Israeli war of aggression on the coastal enclave that erupted on October 7, 2023.

Besides the field hospitals in Gaza, the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) established the Jordanian field hospital in Nablus in late November 2023 and has conducted over 900 surgeries and received more than 83,000 patients ever since.

AMMAN — Minister of Culture Mustafa Rawashdeh expressed his sorrow over the passing of renowned artist and director Ibrahim Abu Khair, who died on Wednesday after a prolonged battle with illness.

Rawashdeh expressed the loss of the Jordanian and Arab artistic community with the death of a prominent artistic figure, who made significant contributions as one of the most important artists.

He also extended his heartfelt condolences to the deceased's family, his large artistic family at the Jordanian Artists' Association, his friends, and all those who loved him, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Rawashdeh said that Abu Khair, along with his colleagues from pioneering artists, presented numerous works in the fields of theatre, cinema, Bedouin and rural drama. 

Throughout his artistic career, Abu Khair represented all sectors of Jordanian society, its dialects, and cultural environments.

 His impressive and diverse career earned him the admiration of generations of Jordanians and Arabs who grew up with his art and were influenced by him as a committed artist.

Born in 1950, Abu Khair was one of the prominent figures in Jordanian drama, having presented over 250 works during his career, ranging from numerous series and plays.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a June 2023 State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing a man to over three years in prison after convicting him of selling marijuana to an undercover agent in Ajloun governorate in December 2022.

The court declared the defendant guilty of obtaining illegal narcotics with the intent of selling the drugs to an undercover agent in Anjara town on December 25.

The SSC handed the defendant five years in prison for the offence of possessing illegal narcotics and ordered him to pay JD5,000 in fines.

However, the court decided to reduce the fine to JD3,500 and the prison term to three years and four months in prison to give the defendant a second chance in life.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was in possession of illegal narcotics and sent one of its agents to pose as a buyer.

“The AND agent got in touch with the defendant and asked him for a small stash of marijuana in return for JD20,” court documents said.

When the two met, AND agents immediately arrested the suspect, court papers added.

Upon searching his home, the court maintained, law-enforcement officers found additional amounts of illicit drugs including Captagon pills, Hashish and Crystal meth.

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that the court “did not provide solid evidence to implicate his client”.

The lawyer argued that his client deserves clemency “since he does not have any previous criminal record”.

Meanwhile, the SSC prosecution office asked the higher court to uphold the sentence and the fine imposed on the defendant.

The higher court maintained that the SSC had followed the proper procedures in issuing the sentence against the defendant.

“It was clear to the court that the defendant confessed willingly to possessing the illegal drugs to sell in the local market,” the higher court said.

The Court of Cassation judges were Yassin Abdullat, Nayef Samarat, Mohammad Khashashneh, Qassem Dughmi and Hammad Ghzawi.

AMMAN — Minister of Investment Muthanna Gharaibeh on Wednesday announced that the ministry is implementing an integrated plan to streamline procedures for investors in coordination with the ministries of industry, trade and supply, planning and international cooperation, digital economy and entrepreneurship, and the chambers of industry.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the Irbid Chamber of Industry and the Al Hassan Industrial City Investors Association, Gharaibeh underscored that legislation serves as the foundation for managing investment policies, highlighting upcoming tangible steps, particularly in digital transformation and procedural simplification, to address investor concerns.

He stressed that Article 43 of the Investment Law mandates all ministries to amend their regulations to align with investment promotion objectives. 

Gharaibeh added that the ministry is actively engaging with relevant ministries to ensure necessary legislative revisions that foster a more attractive investment climate.

The minister noted that the Economic Modernisation Vision supports the industrial sector and bolsters its global competitiveness, citing "successful" Jordanian enterprises that have achieved international recognition.

Head of the Lower House's Economy and Investment Committee MP Khaled Abu Hassan stressed the need to empower the private sector to address regional and global challenges. 

Abu Hassan highlighted the importance of streamlining procedures, providing targeted investment incentives across governorates, and reducing production costs, calling for a transition to alternative energy sources and more adaptable financing solutions, particularly given rising interest rates, while exploring the potential benefits of cryptocurrencies in the economy.

Abu Hassan commended the government’s "swift" decision-making in issuing economic policies that serve the business community and the public, describing them as "positive, ambitious, and conducive" to economic stimulation.

President of the Jordan and Amman chambers of industry Fathi Jaghbir reiterated that His Majesty King Abdullah’s directives to support the industrial sector serve as a driving force for its development. 

He said that the Jordan Chamber of Industry continues to coordinate with government bodies and industrialists to implement tangible improvements that align with His Majesty’s vision for a robust and resilient industrial sector.

President of the Irbid Chamber of Industry Hani Abu Hassan pointed out that the meeting aimed to convey industrial sector challenges directly to decision-makers to ensure the implementation of effective and supportive measures. 

He stressed the need for more flexible and expedited investment facilitation processes, particularly through expanded digital transformation and automation to enhance efficiency.

President of the Irbid Chamber of Commerce Muhammad Shuha highlighted the importance of maintaining stable investment-related legislation to create a more predictable and investor-friendly environment. 

He noted that certain ministerial circulars impact the commercial and industrial sectors' flexibility, calling for a reassessment of these measures to enhance investment appeal.

President of the Ramtha Chamber of Commerce Mukhlis Dayeh called for broader investment opportunities beyond designated industrial zones, advocating for a more equitable distribution of economic initiatives to drive inclusive development across all regions.

Chairman of the Al Hassan Industrial City Investors Association Imad Naddaf highlighted that ongoing dialogues between industrialists and policymakers are essential for bridging perspectives and directly addressing challenges. 

He noted that such engagement plays a pivotal role in developing practical and swift solutions to the obstacles facing the industrial sector.

AMMAN — Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh on Wednesday signed a memorandum of cooperation with General Manager of Harmony Investments Company (HINCO) Khalil Abu Rub to enhance collaboration in geological studies and mineral resource exploration.

Kharabsheh highlighted that the memorandum builds upon ongoing geological survey efforts in Jordan, aiming to develop a precise mineral map using drone technology, a globally adopted advanced method. 

He highlighted the ministry’s commitment to obtaining reliable data to identify mineral resource locations and assess untapped reserves, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The minister stated that negotiations are underway with four companies to finalise executive agreements, expressing optimism about achieving tangible results in the near future.

Abu Rub said that HINCO employs "cutting-edge" technology in exploration activities to determine the quantity and depth of mineral deposits in targeted areas, as well as to identify new sites. 

He explained that aerial surveys conducted by the company are followed by comprehensive field studies, which include sample collection and detailed analyses by technical teams.

Director of the Geology and Mining Directorate Hisham Zayoud said that the memorandum encompasses geological surveying and mineral exploration using the latest technologies, with a particular focus on developing strategies to optimise the Kingdom’s natural resource utilisation.

He added that under a previous memorandum of understanding with the ministry, the company completed procedures for importing drones after securing the necessary security and logistical approvals. 

This initiative aims to enhance planning and exploration operations by producing detailed geological maps that outline mineral resource distribution, bolstering investment opportunities in the mining sector.

The earlier memorandum focused on preparatory steps for conducting aerial geological surveys using drones, as part of a strategic framework to support the mining sector and provide accurate data to facilitate investment decisions in natural resources.

AMMAN — Education for Employment-Jordan (EFE-Jordan) in collaboration with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), marked the closing of activities under the Abdali Mall Recruitment and Training Centre (AMRTC) initiative.

The closing event, titled “The Power of Partnerships", highlighted the achievements of this collaboration over the past six years, expanding access to soft skills, technical skills, and career counselling for Jordanian and Syrian youth, according to a statement by EFE-Jordan.

The event was held under the patronage of British Ambassador to Jordan Philip Hall, and was attended by partners, donors, and employers who worked together to achieve the project’s goals. 

Several success stories of youth participants were showcased, as more than 750 young men and women received training and were connected to job placement opportunities through this partnership. 

In-depth discussions were also held on the importance of collaboration with the private sector to enhance access to employment opportunities and the role of Abdali Mall Recruitment and Training Centre as a key driver in developing Jordan’s workforce and preparing it with skills that align with market needs.

EFE-Jordan reaffirmed its commitment to supporting youth through training and employment programs, emphasising the value of strategic partnerships with key local and international stakeholders to create sustainable opportunities that empower young people to achieve their career aspirations and contribute to national economic growth.